Lake Wallula Fishing
A 32,492-acre Oregon reservoir in Umatilla County, shared across a state line.
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Where an Oregon day on Lake Wallula begins
The BLM outline of Lake Wallula, a reservoir in Umatilla County, adds up to roughly 32,492 acres. Only about 18% of that outline lies inside Oregon; the rest is across the state line. Boaters use sites operated by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Private and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. From the GNIS point it is about 18 miles to Umatilla.
5 open launch sites serve it, per OSMB.
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.; launch managers from the Oregon State Marine Board launch layer; Census 2023 places.
Fish ODFW maps in Lake Wallula
Habitat records, booklet rules and records name these fish at Lake Wallula.
Native, stocked or introduced at Lake Wallula
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black crappie | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Bluegill | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Brown bullhead | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Channel catfish | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Chiselmouth | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Largemouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Northern pikeminnow | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Peamouth | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Pumpkinseed | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Smallmouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Walleye | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| White crappie | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Yellow perch | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
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- Hat Rock State Park on Lake Wallula1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- McNary Dam Oregon Ramp on Lake Wallula2 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, short-term tie-up, marina, life jacket loaner station; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- McNary Yacht Club boat ramp on Lake Wallula1 lane, trailered launch; parking, short-term tie-up, pumpout, marina; Private
- Warehouse Beach Boat Ramp on Lake Wallula1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Warehouse Beach Paddle Launch on Lake Wallula1 lane, hand carry launch; parking, restrooms, life jacket loaner station, hand launch; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
Gauge and pool level on Lake Wallula
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division water management data (NWD dataquery), reading as of the date shown, read November 2, 2026; datum as the Corps publishes it.
The Corps reading for Lake Wallula is dated; the dam operator posts newer values.
Daily bag at Lake Wallula
No booklet line names Lake Wallula; the Northeast Zone, which covers most listed waters of Umatilla County, is shown, and the zone map settles the rest.
| Species | Daily limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open May 22 – Oct 31, unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Kokanee | 10 per day unless noted under Exceptions. | Open all year. |
| Salmon | See Umatilla River under Exceptions. There is no annual limit on hatchery salmon as long as the appropriate number of Hatchery Harvest Tags have been purchased to record the catch. | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Steelhead | 3 per day. | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by John Day and. |
| Bass | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession unless noted under Exceptions. Streams: No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by John Day and. |
| Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Suck. | No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by John Day and. |
Fishing the far side of Lake Wallula
Part of Lake Wallula lies outside Oregon; read the booklet notes on shared waters before fishing the far side.
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Northeast Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
Lake Wallula set beside nearby still water
For more room, Lake Umatilla offers about 50,097 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wallula | 32,492 | reservoir | 5 | 0 | |
| Cold Springs Reservoir | 13 miles southwest | 1,440 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| McKay Reservoir | 30 miles south | 1,174 | reservoir | 2 | 0 |
| Lake Umatilla | 48 miles west | 50,097 | reservoir | 12 | 0 |
| Jubilee Lake | 51 miles east | 92 | reservoir | 0 | 2 |
| Willow Lake (Gilliam County) | 52 miles west | 307 | reservoir | 1 | 0 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
Next stops near Lake Wallula for an Oregon trip
More Oregon lakes close to Lake Wallula
- Cold Springs Reservoir13 miles southwest
- McKay Reservoir30 miles south
- Lake Umatilla48 miles west
- Jubilee Lake51 miles east
- Willow Lake (Gilliam County)52 miles west
Gear shops in range of Lake Wallula
- Bi-Mart (Hermiston)sporting goods store, Hermiston, 19 miles
- Bi-Mart (Pendleton)sporting goods store, Pendleton, 25 miles
- Blue Mountain Anglers & Flyfly shop, Pendleton
Lodging towns close to Lake Wallula
- Umatilla18 miles
- Hermiston19 miles
- Stanfield19 miles
County guides covering Lake Wallula
- Umatilla Countyseat: Pendleton
Piscifun gear an angler could carry out to Lake Wallula
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Photographs from the shoreline near Lake Wallula
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Read these before you fish Lake Wallula
Where in Oregon is Lake Wallula?
The water sits in Umatilla County, about 18 miles from Umatilla.
How many acres does the BLM outline give Lake Wallula?
Near 32,492 acres by the BLM layer, about 18% of it in Oregon.
Which OSMB launch is closest to Lake Wallula?
5 launch sites appear on the OSMB layer, including Hat Rock State Park on Lake Wallula.
Which gamefish use Lake Wallula?
ODFW sources name black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, channel catfish, chiselmouth, largemouth bass and northern pikeminnow.
Does ODFW set a size limit at Lake Wallula?
Trout: Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum.
Can a visitor fish Lake Wallula?
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Are there docks on Lake Wallula?
None appears on the shore lists.
Where is the nearest Oregon tackle counter to Lake Wallula?
First on our list: Bi-Mart (Hermiston), roughly 19 miles away.
Where do I check the water at Lake Wallula?
See the level band for the gauge and its date.
Make Lake Wallula the weekend
Buy the Oregon license and tag online before the drive.